JOHANNESBURG - After their search in Nepal yielded no results, the family of 33-year-old Terricia Govender is turning its attention to neighbouring Tibet.
Govender is among thousands of people still missing after devastating floods hit Nepal 28 days ago.
Flooding and landslides along the Nepal-Tibet border unleashed water and debris, killing hundreds and leaving thousands missing.
Govender was part of a pilgrimage group that, according to her friend Sashin Maharaj, allegedly never made it across the border into Nepal.
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Govender’s mother, Linda, and Maharaj travelled to Nepal to seek assistance in the search for her.
Maharaj says they engaged with immigration officials and reviewed information provided during their search.
“That helped us gather enough evidence to be comfortable that perhaps Nepal wasn’t where we were meant to be searching,” he says.
Maharaj says they are working with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to gain access to Tibet.
“It is not as simple as getting onto a plane as it was in Nepal,” he explains.
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Tibet is administered by China, meaning special applications are required to enter the region.
Applications have been submitted through the South African Embassy in Beijing, which has been engaging with China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The family has joined others who have requested access to Tibet through their respective embassies.
“We’re hoping collectively that it is seen as one,” says Maharaj.
Govender’s mother says she simply wants access to the area where her daughter may be. She now firmly believes Terricia could be on the Tibetan side of the border.
“Hope has no expiration date,” she says.
She also hopes the Chinese government will grant her the same access provided by Nepalese authorities, allowing her to continue searching for her daughter and, hopefully, bring her home.
“We pray for Terricia wherever she is, together with everyone else,” she says.